Influence of Supplemental Lighting on Greenhouse Tomato Production

The immediate goal of this project is to demonstrate the use of innovative lighting strategies to improve the productivity (especially winter production) of tomato growing in greenhouses at two sites. One site is a double-poly commercial tomato greenhouse in Eastern NY state. The second site is a glass research greenhouse on the Cornell University campus. The technical objectives of the project are to improve winter productivity in a commercial setting, with reduced unit production costs and energy content (Btu/lb) compared to imported tomatoes.

The experimental test plot at Cornell University will test three lighting conditions. There is a natural-light control plot, and two supplemental-lighted plots. The plots with supplemental lighting have different light intensities (100 mmol m-2 s-1 and 250 mmol m-2 s-1).

Greenhouse preparations and the commercial growing site for the tomato project will include installation of HPS lamps, light sensors, and a weather station.

Installation of lamps at the Cornell CEA tomato research test site.

              
Horticultural techniques are being refined for the tomato lighting research project.